"The purpose of the BSU shall be to provide for the political, social and organizational welfare, unity, academic growth and development of Black College students and the Foothill College Community. BSU will also focus on issues concerning People of African Origin. We further seek to promote the general welfare of students, fostering unity in all student activities, and enriching cultural understanding and sensitivity amongst students.Excerpt from Foothill College BSU Constitution

Fall 1999 Foothill College Student Ethnicity Demographics
17,049 students were enrolled at Foothill College during Fall Quarter 1999. Out of the 17,049 students enrolled, 558 of these students were of African Ancestry.

The Black Student Union sponsored fall and winter quarter BSU Welcome Table for new and returning students of African Ancestry. The purpose was to orient brothers and sisters to the campus community, create a welcoming environment and to recruit new students into our organization.

Co-sponsored an orientation and training workshop for new and returning BSU members and executive officers.

Co-sponsored the Second Annual March on Foothill in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. along with the Associated Students of Foothill College

Participated on the program of the 6th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Luncheon sponsored by the Foothill College African American Network.The keynote luncheon speaker was the Honorable La Doris Cordell, Santa County Superior Court Judge.

Members of the Black Student Union were active members of the Foothill College African American History Month Planning Committee.Two BSU members served as co-chairs for this campus -wide committee.

BSU members participated on the Second Annual Hip-Hop Generation Talent Showcase Committee and sponsored a successful BSU After Party that included approximately 175 students representing numerous high schools and colleges throughout the bay area. This outreach activity helped to establish additional funds for the BSU account.

BSU participated in the distribution of our African American Network campus newspaper, the Griot, through tabling and mass mailing to 558 Foothill students of African ancestry and community organizations. Distribution also included the entire college district.

My name is Grace Kehinde. I recently experienced inexcusably poor customer service and racism at a drug store in Los Altos . I am a native of Nigeria, Africa. I have been in the US for two years. My husband who is a mechanical engineer is currently studying petroleum engineering at Stanford. I decided to accompany him to the US and to study business administration at Foothill for my professional demand.

On Monday, March 27, 2000 I visited local drug store on San Antonio Road to collect money from a Western Union transaction.

I met with a white female cashier and presented my temporary California drivers license. It was refused. The cashier told me that the temporary ID was not clear. She called the manager. The manager arrived but she did not look closely at my ID and instructed me to get my passport. I showed her my Foothill College Owl Card and my laminated International Student Identity Card so that I would not have to return home for my passport.

The manager refused to complete the $123.00 transaction and said I should go to get my passport. I then asked other cashiers if my ID was just not as good as my passport. They told me that the manager makes the decisions.

I returned home brought back my international passport and gave it to the cashier. The manager returned, glanced at the passport and immediately said, "Youre illegal in this country. Your Visa is not up to date. I told her that it was an insult and that she did not look at it carefully. She then called the police. The Los Altos police officers checked my ID and asked me to exit the store.

The officer then made a phone call. The police said I cannot collect my money there, and that I should try to understand and should go to another store. They said it was the managers right as a citizen to refuse to serve me. I was also told that the staff was not comfortable with my presence.

I went to a different drug store. I showed them my Owl Card, International Student ID and passport and was promptly and courteously served. This clerk said the other manager was probably biased.

I then called the drug that had refuesed me and spoke with a manager. I said if I do not get an apology letter, I will take the matter to my lawyer. I have not heard from managers at this store.

I felt really bad and disgraced. It was really painful to be treated like a criminal. If I were not in status maybe the police would have deported me. Why would a cashier and manager treat me like a criminal?

I do have a few words of advice for my fellow students. Foothill College professionals can help you deal with situations like this. Life is more than the immediate painful experience. Keep your cool and be patient for the end result. Stand up for yourself, always maintaining your professionalism and dignity. More importantly, speak out against injustice or you help perpetuate the problem.

By Sandra Y. Turner Hudnall

My mother, Opal Lee Brown-Turner is my inspiration. In the 1940s she taught several grades in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Texas. During World War II, she worked in the Oakland shipyards, where she met my father. They later moved to Madera, California to begin farming. She went back to school and received her teaching degree, and taught special needs children. My mother believed everyone deserved the opportunity to learn and clearly she has been an inspiration in my work as a community activist.

As vice-president union representative for United Foods and Commercial Workers Union #428, I am very involved in the community. I have served in several organizations such as the NAACP; (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and APRI; (A.Philip Randolph Institute) It was also around 1985 that the nation wanted to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a national holiday. I, along with two others, began thinking of ways our community could honor Dr. King. Slavery came to mind as did Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, and Mr. Randolph and how he organized the sleeping car porters into a union. I thought of the long journey for civil rights and the freedom train was formed. A train that would take the MLK celebrants from San Jose and unite them with marchers in San Francisco.

The train rode from San Jose to Mountain View to Palo Alto to Burlingame and onto San Francisco picking up passengers, singing spirituals and celebrating Dr. King. We contacted the MLK coordinators in San Francisco to assist in the march from the train station throughout the street to end in a great celebration.

The church, labor and community support was so strong, we united with a successful first freedom train ride in 1986. That train-ride tribute continues from year to year. I believe that anyone can do what he or she put their mind and heart to if given the opportunity.

With retirements, resignations and the addition of new growth positions, Foothill has moved aggressively to fill over 20 vacant full-time faculty and administrative positions. New faculty have been hired for the Fall Term 2000 in Biology and Health Sciences, Physical Education, Social Science, Fine Arts. English, Mathematics and Adaptive Learning. Several faculty positions remain vacant in the following disciplines: Computer Information Systems, Creative Writing, Counseling, Physical Education (Swim Coach), Allied Health (Paramedic/EMT), and Cooperative Work Education. The search will remain open until such time that all positions are filled.

Beginning August 1, 2000, Dr. Marie-Elaine Burns will begin as Dean of Middlefield Campus and Evening Programs. Ms. Vivian Sinou will assume the position of Dean of Distance and Mediated Learning and Ms. Frances Gusman will be the administrator for the newly developed position, Dean of Outreach and Student Retention. Administrative vacancies which have yet to be filled include the Dean of Student Affairs and Activities, Dean of Language Arts, Associate Director, Bookstore and Facilities Manager.

Applicants interested in applying for more than one position must submit a district application for each position. Detailed position descriptions and application criteria may be accessed through the Districts web site. Information may also be obtained by contacting Human Resources-Employment Services at: 12345 El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 650-949-6216